Without a word, he strode to the poisoned note and removed the dagger.
Thomas sniffed. “What does it say?”
The note shook in Jasper’s gloved hands as he read aloud.
“Howl,howl, howl, howl! O, youAre men of stones:
Had I your tongues and eyes, I’d use them so
That heaven’s vault should crack. She’s gone forever!
I know when one is dead, and when one lives;
She’s dead as earth.”
“Oh m-m-m—click—my God.”Thomas’ voice caught on a sob. “Maria’sdead!”
Jasper’s breath quickened, the ache in his heart mounting into a deep, sharp pain.
He shook his head, unwilling to believe it. “Francis wouldn’t harm her without first ensuring that I would be there to witness it. His goal is torture of the mind, andthis”—he shook the parchment—“would ensure just that.”
Thomas’ eyes glinted with anger and widened with fear. “You mean t—grunt—to say that that b-b-b—click, grunt—bastard hastakenher?”
Perspiration tickled the skin along his spine, and an irksome tingling began at the backs of his knees.
“How could we let this h-h-h-happen? How—grunt, grunt—couldyou?” Thomas turned an accusatory glare on Jasper. “Y-y-you brought—click—the b-bastard into her life!”
Guilt swelled in Jasper’s chest. “You’re right, Thomas. But Maria is courageous and intelligent. She’ll no doubt have already begun planning her escape.”
It was his turn to step into the role of command, to prove his worth as a partner.
“We’ll find her,” he asserted.
“How, when you’ve—grunt, click, grunt—heretofore been unable to—grunt—find?—”
“Beggin’ yer pardon, Mr. M?” A short, slight young man stood hesitantly in the doorway, a wrapped parcel in his hand.
Thomas flicked a sideways glance at Jasper before stepping forward, his hand extended. “Good—grunt—afternoon, Rupert.”
“I’m right sorry ’bout yer ’ome.” The man placed the parcel into Thomas’ awaiting hands. “That’s the last manuscript with the signatures, and the first printed copy.”
Thomas nodded tightly, his shoulder muscles stiff and spine erect. “Thank you.”
“Boss says it’s a pleasure doin’ business.” The man doffed his hat and made his way from the building.
Curiosity seared through Jasper, but the mysterious package was of little importance when it came to the current threat to Maria’s life.
“We must recruit help,” Jasper said into the brief moment of silence.
Thomas turned. “What would—grunt, click—you suggest?”
CHAPTER23
The longer Maria remained in one spot, the stiffer her muscles became. Her hips and shoulders were all but entirely numb from the painful position. She ached to stretch out, to rise up off the hard surface on which she lay. She was, however, supremely grateful that the fog had lifted from her mind, despite Francis’ attempts to dose her with the bitter liquid twice more.
“I believe that we shall leave the note out of this parcel,” Francis mused from his place across the small room, his voice chillingly gleeful. “Our message will come across nicely this way.”
Maria remained immobile, her breathing rhythmic and eyes closed. He could not know that she was conscious, for he would certainly bind her wrists and ankles.
